Mail-delivery case.



R. BROWN.

MAIL DELIVERY CASE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 7, 1909.

s-SHEBT 1 7l Patented D60. 21, 1909.

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J1/www0@ Brown ncmmuoukwnms. WASHING R. BROWN MAIL DELIVERY CASE. APPLIGATION FILED JULY 7, 1909.

943,766. Patented Dec. 2l, 1909.

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@Hof/neg@ i nnnnnnnn amm co. PMoro-Lrmocmwins; msnm nnnnnn a ROY BROWN, OF BEAVER, OKLAHOMA.

MAIL-DELIVERY CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

Application filed July 7, 1909. Serial No. 506,321.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, ROY BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beaver, in the county of Beaver and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Delivery Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in mail delivery cases, and has for its object to provide a device of this class, which is designed to be secured to a bicycle, motor-cycle or other vehicle frame whereby the same may be readily conveyed from place to place.

Another object is to provide a delivery case, wherein the ends and one side of the same are adapted to swing outward when the case is opened so that access may be had to the contents thereof.

A further object is to provide means whereby the letters or other pieces of mail matter may be held compactly together within the case after the same have been assorted.

A further object is to provide means for holding` the registry book, money order book, or any other material desired for the use of the carrier.

A still further object is to provide a suitable stamp and cash drawer, and a writing surface conveniently arranged in the base of the case.

lVith these and other objects in View, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

ln the drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved mail delivery case, showing the same in open position. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section therethrough. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detached perspective view of one of the side and end members. Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the spring clamping members, and Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the case supporting bracket, showing the same secured to the frame of a motor cycle.

Referring to the drawings, l indicates the top of my improved case and 2 the bottom thereof. One of the sides 3 is rigidly secured to the top and bottom members, the other sides thereof and the ends 4 of the casevbeing formed integrally. Thus one of the sides is formed in two sections 3', each of which is movable with the end 4. Each of the movable sections of the casing are provided with the reinforcing wire edge strip 5, the extremities of which are angularly disposed in opposite directions as at 6, and are mounted in the top and bottom of the case to provide for the pivotal movement of the end 4. Vertical rods 7 connect Y- and support the top and bottom members of the case, and a vertical rod 8, of greater diameter than the rod 7 is also centrally positioned in the top and bottom members l and 2. The rod 8 is adapted to receive the spring clamps 9, which have one of their ends upwardly disposed and curved in against the periphery of the rod S. Upon the opposite side of the rod 8 these clamps are curved upwardly and taper slightly outward to their extremities which are curved downwardly and bear upon the letters, papers, or other mail matter. ln the base 2 of the case a panel 10 is slidably mounted, to provide a suitable writing surface. A stamp or cash drawer is also slidably mounted upon the under side of the base 2, and is adapted to contain envelope, writing paper, stamps and cash in the compartments thereof.

To the top l of the case is suitably secured a handle ll, by means of which the same may be conveniently carried when the postman is not provided with a bicycle or motorcycle or other means of conveyance. strengthening strip 1Q is secured to the lower edge of the side 3 and is provided with openings adjacent to either end thereof, by means of which the case may be secured upon a suitable bracket attached to the frame of a motor-cycle. Pockets 12, are sewed or otherwise secured to the inner surface of both of the ends 4 and side members 3. These pockets are adapted to contain money order blanks, registry slips, pencils and other material which the carrier may be provided with. These pockets can be securely closed to prevent the loss of the different articles contained therein, by means of the straps 13 ,l which have one of their ends secured to the I movable section of the case, the other end l thereof being slotted to receive a button or i other suitable fastening secured upon either of the pockets 13.

Upon the base 2, at one end thereof are provided the spaced vertically disposed re silient plates 14E. The upper ends of these plates are curved inwardly toward each other and are adapted to impinge upon letters or other matter to be mailed by the carrier, which may have been collected by him on his route.

In use, the mail is first sorted by the carrier and placed between the clamping members 9, the spring` tendency of which will prevent any movement of the same. The vertical rod 7 will also act to prevent any longitudinal movement of the letters or other mail matter which has been placed between the clamping members. The ends 4 are now forced inwardly upon their pivots 6, until the vertical edges of the sides 3 are brought together, when the case may be securely closed by means of a suitable hook and eye 15. It will be obvious, however, that a latch bar could be hinged to one of the sections a to engage on a suitable staple secured upon the other of the sections, so that a padlock may be passed through the staple and the case thus locked in its closed position. The sides, ends and top of the case are preferably constructed of a suitable waterproof material, and as the movable ends and side fold inward beneath the edges of the top and bottom members, it will be obvious that in stormy weather all rain will be excluded from the interior of the case, thus entirely protecting the contents thereof.

From the construction above set forth it will be seen that my improved delivery case is adapted for either city or rural use, is easily and conveniently carried by means of the handle 11, or attached to a suitable bicycle, motor-cycle or other conveyance, such as is used by rural carriers.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a suitable bracket support which comprises a bar 16 secured to one of the rear forks of the frame of a motor-cycle. This bar has its extremities vertically disposed, which latter are adapted to be inserted through the openings in the strengthening strip 12 and the side 3 of the case. Supporting bars 17 have their lower ends secured to the forks of the vehicle, the upper ends thereof being secured to the bar 16. On either end of the bar ,16 a supporting member 18 is universally pivoted. These members are adapted to be swung downward and to contact with the ground on either side of the motor vehicle so that the same may be supported in an upright position when it is desired to remove the case from the bracket. Vhen the carrier is again ready to mount his machine, the case is replaced upon the bracket 16, and the members 1S folded inward beneath the case, and engaged in the spring clamps 19 secured to the side of the case. Thus the members 18 are disposed in such a position that they may be compactly arranged together with the bracket 16, and will in no wise interfere with the movement of the carrier in mounting or dismounting.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a mail delivery case of eX- tremely simple construction and wherein the letters and other mail matter may be securely held after they have been assorted, whereby the quick delivery of the same is greatly facilitated. T he case provides, what is in effect a portable desk, as the drawer 11 may contain the writing material andl the sliding panel 12 will provide a suitable writing surface. The case may also be quickly opened and closed, and the various articles of mail can be scrutinized at a glance, so that the same may be rapidly disposed of.

It will be understood that as many of the clamping members 9 may be employed as desired, which would largely depend upon the length and the number of residences on the route of the carrier. It will be further noted that all of the parts may be quickly assembled and are very simple and inexpensive in construction. The case would preferably be constructed of stout leather, and will be found to be highly durable in use.

It will be noted the supporting rods 7 are in alinement with the clamp rod 8. As these rods are arranged in the back of the case, after the mail matter has been placed between the clamps 9, the rods 7 will effectually prevent any transverse twisting movement of the mail.

IV hat is claimed is:

1. A mail delivery case comprising a top and bottom member and side and end members, one of said side members and the end members being integrally formed and pivoted to said top and bottom members, supporting rods secured to said top and bottom members, clamps arranged on a central rod secured in said top and bottom members, a sliding panel mounted in said bottom member, and a drawer slidably secured in the bottom thereof.

2. A mail delivery case comprising a rectangular casing, one side and the ends of said casing being integrally formed and pivoted to the top and bottom thereof, supporting rods secured to the top and bottom of said casing, pockets secured to each of said end and side members, resilient clamping plates slidably disposed between the top and bottom of said casing, vertically disposed resilient clamping members secured in the bottom of said casing, a sliding panel mounted in said bottom member, and a drawer slidably supported upon the bottom of said casing.

8. A mail delivery case comprising a rece tangular casing, one side of said casing comprising two sections integrally formed with the ends thereof, reinforcing strips secured to the edges of said ends and side and having their extremities angularly disposed and mounted in the top and bottoni of said casing, pockets secured to each of said side and end members, means for closing said pockets, vertical supporting rods secured to the top and bottom of. said casing, a centrally positioned rod secured in the top and bottom of said casing, resilient clamping plates slidably disposed upon said rod having their ends upwardly curved and contacting therewith, a sliding panel mounted in the bottom of said easing, and a drawer arranged upon the under side of said casing beneath said panel.

4. A mail delivery case comprising a rectangular casing, a handle secured to the top of said casing, one side of said casing comprising two sections integrally formed with the ends thereof, said sections being pivotally mounted in the top and bottom of said casing, means for securing the opposed edges of said pivoted sections in closed position, supporting rods secured to the top and bottom adjacent to either end of said casing, spring clamping members secured to the bottom of said casing and having their upper extremities upwardly curved to ward each other, a central vertically disposed rod within said casing, resilient clamping members adjustably mounted upon said rod, one end of said members being upwardly curved and contacting therewith, the outer extremities of said members being downwardly disposed and adapted to bear upon the matter placed beneath the same, and a drawer provided with a plurality of partitions slidably arranged on the bottom of said casing.

5. A mail delivery case comprising a rectangular casing, the ends and one side of said casing being integrally formed and pivotally mounted between the top and bottom members thereof, the other side of said casing being rigidly secured to said top and bottom members, a reinforcing strip secured to the inner surface of said side, openings formed through the same adjacent to either end thereof, resilient clamps slidably arranged within said casing and disposed in spaced relation to each other, vertical clamping members secured to the bottom of said casing, a panel slidably mounted in the bottom thereof, and a drawer arranged upon the under side of said casing, and provided with a plurality of compartments.

G. A mail delivery case comprising the end members pivoted in the top and bottom thereof, each of said ends being integrally formed with one of the sides of said case, openings formed in the other side of said case, in combination with a supporting frame secured to the rear forks of a motorcycle, said frame comprising a transversely positioned bar having its ends vertically disposed and adapted to be inserted through the openings in the side of the case, braces secured to said bar and to the motorcycle frame, supporting members pivoted to the ends of said bar, and clamps secured to the side of the case adapted to receive the ends of the supporting members and secure the same in folded position.

n testimony whereof affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ROY BROlVN.

lVitnesses A. G. THoMAs, O. F. Pnunrr. 

